Foster Care Awareness Month: Why It Matters and How You Can Make a Difference

FOSTER CARE AWARENESS MONTH

Every May we recognize Foster Care Awareness Month (FCAM). It’s a month of awareness and reflection, and a time to correct misconceptions, elevate the voices of those with lived experience, and call people to action.

1. Children Need Connection, Not Just Placement
   • Children need belonging, stability, and trusted adults, not simply a bed to sleep in. Many older youth especially fear aging out alone without lifelong support.
2. Reunification Is the First Goal
   • Foster care is often misunderstood. Many people assume it is primarily about adoption, when in reality, the main goal of foster care is reunification. We strive to help children safely return to their biological families whenever possible. Foster families are meant to be temporary bridges, not permanent destinations.
3. Foster Parents Need Community Support
   • Foster parenting is emotionally complex and demanding. Families need encouragement, respite care, practical help, and understanding.
4. Awareness Creates Action
   • Many people want to help but assume fostering is the only option. FCAM shows there are many ways to support vulnerable children and families.

The numbers tell an important story

According to recent national data (AFCARS 2025 Report), approximately 331,747 children were in foster care last year, with more than 501,745 children served by the system throughout the year. During that same year, about 175,008 children entered foster care and 169,927 exited.

Among children currently in care:

• 39% are placed with relatives or kinship caregivers
• 28% are placed in non-relative foster homes
• 9% are in therapeutic foster care
• 5% are in group homes
• 4% are in residential care
• 3% are in pre-adoptive homes

Additionally, more than 67,249 children are waiting to be adopted, and around 15,000 young people age out of foster care each year without a permanent family connection. Watch I Belong Project™ videos to hear directly from youth seeking adoption.

We fight for children to find belonging because when youth age out of foster care they face increased risks of homelessness, unemployment, mental health struggles, and a lack of long-term support systems. 

Get Involved

You do not have to become a foster parent to make a meaningful difference. Find Your Yes this May.

1. Learn and Share

Start by educating yourself and correcting common misconceptions. Share facts, stories, and resources. Use your platform – whether that’s social media, your faith community, your workplace, or your neighborhood.

Follow America’s Kids Belong on Facebook and Instagram to learn and share valuable content.

2. Support Foster Families

Offer practical help:

• Provide meals
• Babysit or offer a date night out
• Donate gift cards
• Help with transportation
• Care for their permanent children
• Celebrate foster parents without oversimplifying their role

Learn how to effectively support foster parents.  Check out this free 35-minute training focused on supporting foster parents.

3. Volunteer

We’re not all called to foster, but we’re all called to care. If you can’t foster, you still can support children in care and foster families. Check out these ideas and more through the Fostering Front Door.

• CASA volunteers (Court Appointed Special Advocates)
• Mentors for teens aging out
• Tutors
• Childcare volunteers
• Church support teams

Your time can change a child’s story.

4. Help make your area Foster Friendly®

Foster Friendly Communities are a people-centric community initiative that activates businesses, faith communities, nonprofits and elected leaders to create conditions where foster families and kids thrive, connected via our open-source platform, the Foster Friendly App.

Already Foster Friendly®? Download FREE resources to share about Foster Care Awareness Month!

5. Become a Foster or Kinship Parent

If your family is considering fostering, check out our Fostering Front Door.  This resource hub is filled with answers to questions potential foster families most often ask!

Yes, foster care is challenging, but for many children, a safe and stable home can be life-changing.

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BE A PART OF THE MISSION

Foster Care Awareness Month is not just about recognizing a system—it’s about recognizing people.

• It’s about children who need safety.
• It’s about parents working toward reunification.
• It’s about foster families opening their homes.
• It’s about communities deciding that vulnerable children matter.

AKB’s mission is to dramatically improve experiences and outcomes for kids and families involved in foster care.  

You can be a part of this mission! Donate to support this work.